Scisms And Millers Plan Dam Challenge Record Attempt As Shootout Fundraiser

Inspired by last year’s unsuccessful Dam Challenge attempt that brought some added attention to the popular Lake of the Ozarks Shootout in Central Missouri, two local race teams are gearing up to tackle the 188-mile endurance run from Bagnell Dam to Truman Dam and back with the goal of breaking a record and, more importantly, raising money for charity.

Taylor Scism and her father, MTI founder Randy Scism, are eager to run their MTI 390XR raceboat in the Dam Challenge on Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks in a few weeks. Photos by Pete Boden/Shoot 2 Thrill Pix

In three weeks, M CON Offshore Racing team owners Tyler and Lindsey Miller, the Kansas-based performance boaters who put a spotlight back on the Dam Challenge with their 2021 attempt in their Skater Powerboats 368 catamaran to break the previous record of 2 hours, 29 minutes and 49 seconds that was set in September 2014, are going to be joined by the MTI-backed TS Motorsports team of Taylor Scism and her father, MTI founder Randy Scism.

Taylor Scism, MTI’s client relations manager and the honorary chair of this year’s Shootout Charity Auction, said she’s excited to attempt the Dam Challenge in the team’s new MTI 390XR 450R Factory Stock-class boat, which is powered by twin Mercury Racing 450R engines—the same power that propels the Millers’ 36-foot Skater.

Lindsey and Tyler Miller can’t wait to get another try at the Dam Challenge in their 36-foot Skater with twin Mercury Racing 450R engines.

“Randy and I think this is going to be a lot of fun—we’re just hoping the weather holds up,” said Taylor Scism, who added that Kimber and Tom Cline of Tom Cline Helicopter are going to be providing aerial coverage and support during the attempt on Monday morning, August 22. “We’re taking the record attempt seriously, as we do with any race, but ultimately our goal is to raise as much money as we can for Make-A-Wish Missouri and Kansas.”

Scism said she selected that charity because she is very involved with the Make-A-Wish Foundation in St. Louis and because the Shootout has longstanding ties with the organization thanks to the annual Wish On A Ride events it has been hosting for more than a decade.

Click on the image above of Taylor and Randy Scism to donate to their charity of choice, Make-A-Wish Missouri and Kansas.

The Millers, who made a last-minute attempt at the record last Thursday morning but chalked it up as a valuable practice run after losing a couple of propeller blades on the return leg, have selected the Kids’ Harbor Child Advocacy Center in Camdenton, Mo., as its charity for the Dam Challenge. With a mission to provide coordinated response, healing and prevention of child abuse, the Kids’ Harbor Child Advocacy Center serves the Lake of the Ozarks area as well as 11 Missouri counties.

“We’re happy to be doing the Dam Challenge with Taylor and Randy,” Tyler Miller said. “I think Taylor mentioned this idea back in February and then we all talked about it a little more at the recent Performance Boat Center Outboard Fun Run and ironed out some details. We hope to raise a good amount of money for both charities and, of course, we hope to keep the friendly Skater vs. MTI rivalry going.”

Click the image above of Lindsey and Tyler Miller to donate to their charity of choice, Kids’ Harbor Child Advocacy Center. Photo by Jason Johnson

The Scisms and Millers only have a few weeks to raise money, but they’re confident their boating family and friends will come through in significant ways. To donate to the Scisms’ Make-A-Wish fundraiser, click here. To give to the Millers’ Kids’ Harbor campaign, click here.

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